2 Roles & Responsibilities

Releasing Potential staff will take responsibility for the safe behaviour of a group on activities. Where there are other staff attending they should be encouraged to use their relationship with the young people to help manage the behaviour.

Releasing Potential will adopt the behaviour management strategy of any centre we work with where it does not contradict anything in our own behaviour management policy.

The managers of Releasing Potential have responsibility to ensure that all staff are aware of the behaviour management policy; are appropriately trained to undertake it, and that it is applied in all situations.

3 Risk assessment

Releasing Potential seeks detailed information about all referrals to its programmes. The Information Passport sent out to referrers includes a risk assessment matrix, which is then discussed at referral meetings, both before and after initial meeting with the young person has taken place.

We have sight of Statements of Educational Need and Education Health Care plans before agreeing to work with a young person. Where there is any concern not answered by the documents we may contact referrers for clarification. Judgements are made at this meeting, which will include at least 2 senior staff, as to how best to manage the risks and needs presented by the student. In some cases we may decline to work with them on the basis that we are unable to safely manage the risks or meet the needs.

Risk assessment is an ongoing process and any incidents or additional information which arises in our work with a young person will give rise to review of the risk assessment on working with them. Programmes are adjusted or, in case of significant concern, ended if the risks presented indicate that we cannot safely provide for the young person.

Decisions are made, and information shared, through a system of daily team debriefs and weekly team meetings where incidents/accidents, safeguarding are standing agenda items. Minutes are circulated to all staff. Emails updating staff on any incidents are circulated as and when appropriate.

4 Behaviours

Acceptable behaviour

The following statements describe acceptable behaviour for a young person taking part in activities: – Participating in the activity – Listening carefully to staff and other group members – Heeding safety instructions immediately – Showing respect for equipment & environment – Using appropriate language.

Other desirable behaviours include: – Co-operating well with other group members – Remaining calm in difficult or challenging situations – Showing responsibility for self by having appropriate clothing & being punctual – Sharing own understanding with others in the group.

Unacceptable behaviour

The following are examples of unacceptable behaviour by a young person taking part in activities: – Name calling – Threatening or offensive language or behaviour – Walking off from the group – Refusal to comply with safety instructions – Intimidation – Physical abuse – Damage to property – Bullying & harassment, including racist, sexist or homophobic abuse.

5 Rewards

Releasing Potential encourages the use of rewards to encourage appropriate and desirable behaviour. We use the SHAPE rules/rewards system, which recognises good behaviour under the headings of Safe, Healthy, Achieving, Positive, Enterprising.

The following are examples of rewards which are used: – Praise for pupils behaving well – Positive feedback to centre, teacher, parent or other appropriate person – Rewards of food, drinks or extra activity time – Allowing a group increased autonomy with their programme – Certificates, stickers & other positive reinforcements.

6 Sanctions

Sanctions are needed to respond to unacceptable behaviour and to keep the activities safe. They will be used when necessary to establish boundaries and keep sessions safe, early intervention and reinforcement of acceptable behaviours are the preferred way of managing behaviour.

Releasing Potential will seek to use sanctions in a way that makes the following clear: – Exactly what behaviour was considered unacceptable – What the young person is expected to do differently next time – That the sanction is appropriate to the unacceptable behaviour – Who will be informed about the sanction and the reasons for it.

Some examples of sanctions used by Releasing Potential are shown below: – Time Out of the activity – Removal of privileges or favours – Finishing the activity early – Exclusion from following activity session – Sent home and exclusion from group on the following day.

7 Records & Reporting

There should be regular feedback between Releasing Potential, parents/carers and any other agencies involved with the young people. Feedback should be to praise good behaviour as well as inform about sanctions used for unacceptable behaviour.

Incident forms

An incident form should be completed for any behaviour that may involve: – Exclusion – Serious breach of safety regulations – Criminal proceedings – A member of the public – Serious bullying or harassment of staff or pupil.

They should be completed by anyone involved or witness to the incident.

8 Staff training

All Releasing Potential staff are required to complete the NCFE Level 3 in ‘The Management of Challenging Behaviour’, which will be provided in house free of charge. Some time will be allocated for this within out of term schedules, but staff are responsible for completing the portfolio, which may need to be undertaken in their own time.